Re: Non-competes

["Chuck Igo" <chuckigo@maine.rr.com>]

Counselor Ross wrote (of the American Express radio spot):
>>If I were trying to advertise a product or service, I certainly wouldn't
hire such an agency.<<

i heard the spot for the first time on WBZ the other day (after this thread
had begun).  the service being advertised is an American Express-provided
"forum" for small businesses to discuss issues such as no-compete clauses.
the closing of the spot includes the invititation for "your" small business
to join this American Express community, as well as including the disclaimer
that the views expressed were not necessarily those of Amex.

in sixty seconds, they caught the attention of the listener and included the
details on how to become a part of this service group.  what they failed to
do was to properly brand themselves during the spot.  it might have been a
more effective ad had they included some of the "community" details during
the spot while slipping in the comments that had been collected on the issue
of "no-compete" clauses.

i'd say that the agency responsible for this particular commercial did a far
better job that the agencies that spend 29 seconds showing us "not much"
before slipping in any reference to the actual sponsor being promoted.  it's
sad to see a stretch of valuable airtime wasted as such.  but, i do have
some good news....

- -Chuck (i just saved a lot of $ on my car insurance) Igo ;-)